Multinational corporations face increasing expectations in their overseas treatment of workers, third parties, and other stakeholders. Those expectations are nowhere more visible than in the intersection of business and human rights.
Our lawyers advise companies on the scope and application of the human rights laws and expectations, and defend clients in some of the most prominent Alien Tort Statute (ATS) cases to date. Our practice is worldwide in scope, covering an expansive set of industries and offering clients a broad range of services that include assistance with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, preventive advice and counseling, litigation and investigations, and legislative assistance and advice. In serving our clients' needs, Steptoe draws upon the resources of our lawyers in the United States, London, and Brussels who practice in a variety of disciplines, including international trade, compliance & investment, commercial litigation, crisis management, government affairs, and chemical & environmental.
Steptoe lawyers have held prominent positions in the US Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of State, UN criminal tribunals, and other domestic and international bodies. They teach, write, and speak extensively on business and human rights, the ATS, and related areas.
Steptoe's business and human rights team:
- Assists clients with their CSR programs
- Conducts ATS and human rights risk assessments, audits, and internal investigations
- Develops and implements prevention programs
- Advises clients with respect to the scope and extent of due diligence, risk mitigation, and audits on partners, consultants, representatives, and other third parties
- Counsels and represents buyers and sellers on human rights risks in M&A transactions
- Drafts press responses and public statements, and fields inquiries from and coordinates with foreign and domestic government personnel and NGOs regarding related matters
- Defends clients facing litigation in this area in state and federal courts, as well as in collateral proceedings involving the US Congress and other US agencies
- Counsels clients participating in United Nations complaint dispute procedures
- Identifies and supervises counsel in foreign jurisdictions regarding parallel legal matters involving these issues
Noteworthy
Chambers Global
- Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO, Global (2008-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions, US (2019-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy, US (2020-2025)
- Chambers Global, International & Cross-Border Capabilities, International Disputes & Regulation, US (2019-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade: CFIUS Experts, US (2020-2025)
- Chambers Global, International & Cross-Border Disputes (International Firms), China (2021-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO (International Firms), China (2019-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO, Asia-Pacific Region (2019-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO, Europe-wide (2019-2025)
- Chambers Global, International Trade/WTO, Europe/Belgium (2008-2017)
Chambers Asia-Pacific & Greater China Region
- Chambers Greater China Region, Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption (International Firms) (2022)
- Chambers Greater China Region, International Trade/WTO (International Firms) (2022)
- Chambers Asia-Pacific, International Trade/WTO, Asia-Pacific Region (2009-2023)
Chambers Europe
- Chambers Europe, International Trade/WTO, Europe/Belgium (2008-2025)
Chambers USA
- Chambers USA, International Trade: CFIUS Experts, Nationwide (2017-2025)
- Chambers USA, International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions, The Elite, Nationwide (2017-2025)
- Chambers USA, International Trade: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy, Nationwide (2017-2025)
- Chambers USA, International Trade, Nationwide (2005-2016)
- Chambers USA, International Arbitration: Enforcement, Nationwide (2022)
- Chambers USA, Government Contracts, Highly Regarded (2022-2025)
Legal 500
- Legal 500 US, Dispute Resolution: International Litigation (2025)
- Legal 500 US, Dispute Resolution: International Trade (2007-2021, 2024)
- Legal 500 US, International Trade and National Security: Trade Remedies & Trade Policy (2023-2025)
- Legal 500 US, International Trade and National Security: Customs, Export Controls, & Economic Sanctions (2023-2025)
- Legal 500 US, International Trade and National Security: CFIUS (2023-2025)
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Legal 500 US, Government: Government Contracts (2018-2025)
- Legal 500 UK, Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration (2010-2025)
- Legal 500 UK, Dispute Resolution: Public International Law (2010-2025)
- Legal 500 EMEA, Customs, Trade, WTO & Anti-Dumping, Belgium (2011-2019, 2022-2024)
Law360
- Law360, International Trade Group of the Year (2010-2013, 2015, 2019)
Global Arbitration Review
- Global Arbitration Review, “International arbitration practice that impressed in the past year,” (2016)
- Global Arbitration Review, GAR 100 (2017-2023)
Global Investigations Review
- Global Investigations Review (GIR) 100, Top 30 Firms for Investigations Worldwide (2015-2022)
WorldECR
- WorldECR, Sanctions Law Firm of the Year, USA (2018, 2021), Sanctions Highly Commended Law Firm, USA (2017);
- WorldECR, Export Controls, Law Firm of the Year, USA (2015-2016), Highly Commended Law Firm, USA (2017), Runner-Up Law Firm of the Year, USA (2018)
- WorldECR, Sanctions Law Firm of the Year Runner-Up, Rest of the World (2021)
Asia Legal Business
- Asia Legal Business, Finalist, China Law Awards, International Firm of the Year: International Trade (2021)
- Asia Legal Business, Shortlisted, Hong Kong Awards, Regulation and Investigations Law Firm of the Year (2020)
China Business Law Journal
- China Business Law Award, International Trade (2013 - 2022)
- China Business Law Award, Corporate Compliance (2019 - 2022)
- China Business Law Award, Government and public policy (2022)
- China Business Law Award, Anti-Bribery & Compliance (2015, 2018)
China Law & Practice
- China Law & Practice, International Firm of the Year: Trade Award (2016, 2018 - 2020, 2022); Shortlisted (2021)
- China Law & Practice, Shortlisted, International Firm of the Year: Regulatory & Compliance (2018, 2021 - 2022)
Representative Matters
Steptoe served as the counsel of record in:
- Ayemou v. Amvac Chem. Corp., 2008 WL 4107286 (9th Cir. 2008), involving ATS claims against foreign banks, charities and nationals.
- Abagninin v. Amvac Chem. Corp., 545 F.3d 733 (9th Cir. 2008), involving ATS claims against chemical companies, oil company, agricultural companies, and others
- Ibrahim v. Titan Corp., 556 F. Supp.2d 1 (D.D.C. 2007), involving claims by individuals in Iraq
- In Re Terrorist Attacks on 9/11, 464 F. Supp. 2d 335 (S.D.N.Y. 2006), involving ATS claims against a financial institution.
- Sale v. Titan Corp., 436 F.Supp.2d 55 (D.D.C. 2006), involving claims by former prisoners.
- Burnett v. Al Baraka Investment & Development Corp., 274 F. Supp. 2d 86 (D.D.C.), involving ATS claims against foreign banks, charities, and nationals.
Other representative matters include:
- Steptoe lawyers have been retained to provide legal and strategic advice to multinational companies during crisis situations. We have worked with company executives and foreign counsel to ensure appropriate and reasonable responses by government police and security forces, and minimize exposure to potential litigation.
- Steptoe has been retained by multinational companies to review discrete and systemic scenarios, assess the extant risks of ATS litigation, and devise effective preventive strategies.
- Steptoe lawyers have undertaken and overseen internal investigations into physical injuries and deaths that have occurred on or around clients’ premises. That has included fact and information gathering, consultation with forensic experts, advice to management regarding interactions with local governments, and assistance in strategic communications.
- Steptoe has represented individual corporate officers in litigation involving ATS claims arising out company relationships and interactions with security forces.
News & Publications
Press Releases
Steptoe Practices and Attorneys Earn High Rankings in the Legal 500 United States 2025
June 11, 2025
Client Alerts
Business and Human Rights Program Effectiveness: Sunny Skies with Storm Clouds Brewing
May 27, 2025
International Compliance Blog
UK Issues New Guidance on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking in Supply Chains
March 27, 2025
By: Alexandra Melia
Press Releases
March 11, 2025
Press Releases
March 5, 2025
Client Alerts
An Overview of OCR's February 14, 2025 "Dear Colleague" Letter and its Implications
February 21, 2025
By: Brittney Denley, Dwight J. Draughon, Jr., Tyler Evans, Patrick F. Linehan, Karima Maloney, Ryan P. Poscablo, Alex Wolf
Insight: Risk & Resilience
Risk & Resilience
Navigating Forced Labor Trade Regulation
June 2025
By: Jonathan C. Drimmer, Yousuf Aftab, Eva Monard, Elinoam Abramov
Risk & Resilience
Launching a CS3D-Aligned Complaints Mechanism: Lessons from a Pilot
June 2025
By: Jonathan C. Drimmer, Yousuf Aftab, Wendy Wysong, Elinoam Abramov
Risk & Resilience
Trade, Supply Chain Dynamics, and Human Rights
June 2025
By: Jonathan C. Drimmer, Yousuf Aftab, Jeffrey G. Weiss, Elinoam Abramov